Kicked Up Chicken Queso Dip

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought it would be fun to finally post this easy and insanely flavorful recipe that I have been making for parties for a really long time.  If I had to describe this dish in one word it would be: ADDICTING.  The flavors are insanely crave-able. Whenever I make it, it disappears in record time – so be sure to make plenty.  Fortunately, this recipe can easily be doubled (or tripled) it's a must try for your next party!  Aaaand, this post will be live early enough for you to whip this up tonight to eat while sipping on a margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

 

Ingredients:

 

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Medium Onion

1 Small Red Pepper

1 Package of Ground Chicken

1 Packet of Taco Seasoning

1 Teaspoon of Crushed Red Pepper {optional}

1 Can Refried Beans

1 23 ounce can of Tostitos Salsa Con Queso

6 Green Onions, Chopped

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar

1 Teaspoon Paprika

Tortilla Chips {Scoops!} for dipping

 

 

 

{The initial cast of characters.  And yes, I understand that there are a few store-bought components but that is what makes this dish EASY.  I could easily whip up a from-scratch queso sauce but quite frankly, this Tostitos brand is the BOMB and I didn't want to. LOL!}

{Start off with sautéing your chopped onion and pepper in the olive oil over medium high heat until golden brown, about 8 minutes.}

{Once the onions and peppers are brown, add in your ground chicken, breaking it up well to evenly cook.  This will take about 10 minutes.}

{Once the chicken is golden brown, add in your packet of taco seasoning.}

{Mix this well to combine and reduce the heat to low.  This is where I added in the crushed red pepper flakes for added spice but this is optional.}

{While the flavors are melding in the ground chicken mixture, heat the can of refried beans in a small saucepan over medium heat.  I used vegetarian refried beans as the regular ones are made with lard.  No thank you!}

{Once the beans have warmed through and are nice and soft, add them to the ground chicken and taco mixture.}

{Now add your delicious queso. YUM!}

{Mix this well and let this warm through for a minute or so.}

{Pour the chicken and queso mixture in a casserole dish.}

{Top it with the chopped green onions, cheddar cheese and sprinkle the top with paprika for color.}

{Bake this in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts and starts to bubble on the edges.  AMAZING!!}

 

 

{Serve HOT with tortilla chips.  I prefer the Multigrain Scoops for dipping – the slightly sweet flavor and texture of them go really well with this savory and cheesy dip.}

I hope you'll give this a try for your next event... I guarantee this will be the star of your next party!  I can't even begin to describe how good this is.  Pair this with an icy cold margarita and I am one happy girl! :)

 

xoxo, thanks for reading!